A great interview in the Journal this morning with Abdoulaye Faye, who had a first class game for Newcastle on Saturday, when he partnered Claudio Cacapa at the heart of the Newcastle defense.
With Steven Taylor and David Rozehnal on the sidelines there is plenty of competition for the central defense positions at the moment in Newcastle’s defense.
Faye indicated there were a number of clubs after his services including Sven Eriksson at Manchester City.
Abdoulaye Faye – delighted to be at Newcastle United
This is what Abdoulaye told Paul Gilder of the Newcastle Journal today:
“I had offers from other clubs, it wasn’t just Newcastle,†“Manchester City, Everton and Wigan all wanted me to join them, but I told them all, ‘No, I would prefer to go to Newcastle and work with Sam again’.
“I felt that joining Newcastle would be the perfect move for me because this is such a big club – it’s so different to Bolton. I’m pleased it all worked out. Newcastle is such a great club and things couldn’t have gone better.â€
Faye’s £2M move to St James’s Park dragged on and on and it was almost 2 weeks after we thought we had signed Faye that we eventually got him on the last day of the transfer window, Friday 31st August. It says a lot about Faye that he waited for Sam to finally handle all the politics and stuff with Bolton, so he could finally get him to Newcastle.
Yet having set his heart on joining forces with the coach who signed him from Istres in 2005, he hung on and waited for his dream move to materialize.
“It was a difficult time for me – I started the season at Bolton and the people there didn’t want me to leave,†“The people at Bolton tried to keep me. Bolton offered me a four-year contract, but I said no.”
“It was hard for me. I just had to wait, wait, wait while all the people there were telling me not to leave. But I continued to tell them no and I’m glad that I did that.â€
“Knowing Sam from Bolton made it a bit easier and I was glad to have the chance to come here and work with him again. When I worked with him at Bolton he picked me for all the games and gave me great confidence.”
“When he came to Newcastle and then said he wanted me to join him, there was no decision to make. I love working with him and I couldn’t wait to get here.â€
“I enjoyed playing with Claudio and I think we can develop a good partnership,†“He’s an intelligent player, a good player and I think we worked well together. I was pleased with the performance that I gave against Everton, but the result was the most important thing.â€
“It was important to win and I was delighted with the result. It’s great to be here at Newcastle – playing to 52,000 crowds is a brilliant thing and I can’t wait to get out there again at St James’s Park.â€
“I’m trying to make it here, I’ve just played for the first time so I think it might be best to stick around in Newcastle (when Senegal next contest an international fixture),†“Perhaps it would be better for me not to go (next time).â€
These are exactly the type of players we need and want at the new Newcastle United. Faye is obviously delighted to be on Tyneside and he has some pedigree too. If his display on Sunday is anything to go by, it’s going to be hard to keep him out of the side. The fact that we have so many good players, who don’t always start, shows just how quickly Sam has built up the squad at Newcastle.
All we need now, as witnessed on Saturday, is games so the lads can get to know each other and play more together. The lack of communication was obvious on Saturday. The St. James Park crowd seemed to sense this and they roared the team along in the second half after Newcastle lost their lead. They picked themselves up and went on to eventual victory and all 3 points.
Comments welcome.
10 comments so far
Hammy
Oct 9, 2007 at 7:30 PM
Comment #1Thought Faye was outstanding against Everton…he’s a big lad who doesn’t take any prisoners, all of BSA’s recruits seem to have a great attitude and hopefully it’ll rub off on the rest of the players.
With most of the players returning to fitness things are really hotting up regarding places, hopefully we’ll start seeing the squad starting to gel,
someones in for a sh$gging, let’s hope it’s Spurs.
Lull
Oct 9, 2007 at 9:07 PM
Comment #2A solid rock defender. I’m glad we got him. Nice to see our squad’s depth in defense.
Murvar
Oct 9, 2007 at 9:10 PM
Comment #3Yes I thought Faye was good on Sunday. It was the first time (I think) that an entirely new back four had played together. They are all looking pretty good – and Rozenhal, who didn’t play, is excellent in my view. The little question mark is over Beye – both Everton goals were from their left flank and I remain to be convinced by him. Enrique showed great presence and I hope that Cinderella position is now finally sorted.
leo
Oct 9, 2007 at 9:47 PM
Comment #4faye was awesome, i found it quite amusing however that alot of his headers he would fall on his arse
haha comical but brilliant.
rozehnal is possibly better but not far different, if rozzy gets some more meat on his bones he will be one of the best defenders that we have had.
we arnt even relying on taylor atm which is saying something because that lad is golden…
jose looks solid also. beye still needs to get used to the premiership
things are looking up
Alex
Oct 9, 2007 at 9:57 PM
Comment #5i didnt get to see the game on sunday , but from what i have seen of Faye from his time at Bolton i was pleased we got him.We now seem to have a good set of defenders who will only get beter the more they play together.Rozenthal already looks pure class .Beye looks a bit short of fitness, he seems to fade in the last 20 minutes of a game but i think once he gets used to the premership he will also be an excellent accuisition.Enrique could well be the revalation of the season.Young player of the year maybe.Finally a defence we can call a defence , and with the players in front of them silverware will come in the next couple of seasons.This season is too early but i would definately not rule out a CL place.
azza jones
Oct 10, 2007 at 5:48 AM
Comment #6I truly enjoyed faye’s performance, even backing up Given to clear off the line. I think Cacapa is possibly our best centre back, his reading of the game is first class. A question remains over his fitness but we have Rozenthal and Taylor to provide competition for places.
Faye can also play the holding midfield role which he thinks is his best position so I would like him to get a run there with Cacapa & Roz behind him.
That would be rock solid…..Shit I cant believe Im talking about Newcastle United, ha ha ha.
Things are on the way up…..
Lamesley Mag
Oct 10, 2007 at 8:07 AM
Comment #7Faye and Cacapa looked solid in defense although both goals came via Everton’s left flank; i.e. our right!
Not blaming Beye for any of the goals as Zog lost his man for the first goal and second was a fluke. Still can’t work out why Zog and Milner changed flanks as fullbacks and wingers need time to get to know one another.
We now have competition for places in central defence but will feel better when Taylor signs his 5 year contract with Newcastle. Now we need competition at RB and LB………….
iain
Oct 10, 2007 at 11:56 AM
Comment #8faye and cacapa at ch with roz moving to dfm instead of butt/geremi and emre/barton coming in alongside him.
butt may have scored against everton but again him and geremi couldnt pass the ball any better than our academy lads can.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0q35ICWVGXY
check the 2nd goal for what roz can do from mf positions, he gets so far up the pitch sometimes i wonder if thats where he would rather play/ he has the technique/pace/reading of the game to play cm imo.
faye is better in the air than roz and becuase of the nature of the pl that means form/fitness dictating him and cacapa should be our no1 pairing. they had little to do in the goals we conceded against everton as we were caught short on our right side for both goals. not something that happened often/if at all on enriques side he should be getting more praise for a solid performance.
faye was MOM though by miles, cacapa didnt even play bad but the fellas that made him MOM need there heads checking.
iain
Oct 10, 2007 at 11:58 AM
Comment #9edit – that should be 2nd psg goal, not the 2nd goal on the video thats the monaco goal.
ToonPipes
Oct 10, 2007 at 4:04 PM
Comment #10Iain, agreed – FAYE was, by miles, MOM on sunday …. he won everything, broke up play, and started trying tricks! ….. Cacapa is good, but FAYE won everything . .